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Oregon-Michigan State leads USA TODAY Sports' staff picks

USA TODAY Sports college football staff predicts every Top 25 matchup. This week's big games include Oregon hosting Michigan State, USC traveling to Stanford and Notre Dame and Michigan playing in South Bend.

When No. 4 Oregon hosts No. 6 Michigan State this Saturday, it will be the equivalent of an elimination game for both teams harboring national title aspirations. The loser could rebound, but it will have no margin for error and require lots of help.

The decisive matchup will be how much the Ducks and quarterback Marcus Mariota move the ball against the rough-and-tumble Spartans defense that resembles Stanford units that have given Oregon trouble the past two seasons.